Preparing for Your First Bike Race

Working as a program manager at UBS in Chicago, Illinois, Tim Shields handles the management of complex long-term process and technology projects. Apart from his career, Tim Shields is a fitness advocate and participates in several activities to that end, such a biking.

When preparing for one’s first bicycle race, there are some important steps to take to ensure a smooth and safe experience. Here are three of the most important items to check off the list before race day:

Try to get as much experience as possible participating in group rides. This will give you the experience of learning how to comfortably ride within a large group when traveling at high speeds. It also allows for the development of key bike racing concepts, such as drafting and pack positioning.

Becoming familiar with the course is also a key component. It’s helpful to get a map of the course and study it in an effort to determine the particular skills necessary to complete the race. For instance, it is beneficial determine what percentage of the course is comprised of uphill terrain, downhill terrain, and how steep those grades are.

While studying a map of the course is important, it’s not a replacement for actually riding the course. A test-run of the race is extremely beneficial for the first-timer. Even a leisurely ride of the course, slower than the pace of the race, will help the beginner with key elements, such as which gears to use on which parts of the course.